A Call the Midwife star whose dad fought at D-Day has slammed Rishi Sunak for leaving the 80th anniversary commemorations early.
Stephen McGann, who plays Dr Turner in the hit show, took aim at the Prime Minister, for returning to the UK to do an interview with ITV. Mr McGann’s dad Joe was a Royal Naval Commando who took part in the D-Day landings. He tweeted: “My dad spent longer on that beach than our own Prime Minister did. And in rather more testing circumstances.”
He added: “He personally called the election during major commemorations. He is the one person in the entire country who can’t claim an unforeseen clash of appointments.”
It comes as the PM was forced into a grovelling apology for leaving the 80th anniversary D-Day events early to do an ITV interview. In a sign of Tory panic over the misjudgement, Mr Sunak posted a statement on X admitting he had made a mistake.
He said: “The 80th anniversary of D-Day has been a profound moment to honour the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our values, our freedom and our democracy.
“This anniversary should be about those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The last thing I want is for the commemorations to be overshadowed by politics. I care deeply about veterans and have been honoured to represent the UK at a number of events in Portsmouth and France over the past two days and to meet those who fought so bravely.
“After the conclusion of the British event in Normandy, I returned back to the UK. On reflection, it was a mistake not to stay in France longer – and I apologise.”
But Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth said the PM has shown his true colours. He said: “Yesterday’s D-Day commemorations were about remembering the bravery of all those who serve our country. In choosing to prioritise his own vanity TV appearances over our veterans, Rishi Sunak has shown what is most important to him. It is yet more desperation, yet more chaos, and yet more dreadful judgement from this out of touch Prime Minister.”
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey tweeted: “One of the greatest privileges of the office of Prime Minister is to be there to honour those who served, yet Rishi Sunak abandoned them on the beaches of Normandy. It is a total dereliction of duty and shows why this Conservative government just has to go.”